COSHOCTON – Chuck and Patty Salyers spent their date night Thursday at Coshocton High School for its annual community Thanksgiving dinner and presentation of the play “Arsenic and Old Lace.”

It was the first time the couple had attended the event in its 14th year. They couldn’t say enough about how good the food was or how friendly the student volunteers serving and seating were.

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Junior Jade Hasseman receives meals to take to guests at the annual community Thanksgiving dinner held Thursday at Coshocton High School.(Photo11: Leonard Hayhurst/Tribune)

“It shows a lot about the character of the people involved here at the high school. It’s essential to the community,” Chuck said. “It’s really good to see.”

Cathy Waibel has been the coordinator of the event every year. She said they usually serve about 600 meals. Kitchen staff and other volunteers cooked 24 turkeys and vats of stuffing, greens beans, mashed potatoes and gravy throughout the day. All materials or money to buy items are donated with nothing coming from school funding.

“It’s the school’s way of thanking the community for their support,” Waibel said. “It also brings the community in to interact with the kids. They love to talk about the different groups that they’re in.”

Displays of the various school clubs were setup for visitors to see as they entered. Members of the clubs helped to seat people, serve food, pour drinks and clear tables.
Junior Jade Hasseman is a member of Key Club and Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.

“Not everybody gets that Thanksgiving meal, so I’m glad they can get that here to enjoy,” she said.

Junior Shaylee Ackley is a member of student council and Key Club. She said the dinner was probably one of the best events the district participates in.

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Cathey Waibel hands a tray of pumpkin cupcakes to her daughter Mary as they prepared for the annual community Thanksgiving dinner Thursday at Coshocton High School.(Photo11: Leonard Hayhurst/Tribune)

“Everyone sits together and enjoys everything. It’s fun that we all come together as one,” she said.

Principal Grant Fauver said students probably look forward to the event as much as the public. He said the district is lucky to be in a city that has been so supportive from voting to levies to attending sporting events.

“It gives them that warm tingling feeling that they’re doing something for the greater good of the community and providing a service to our families,” Fauver said of student involvement. “It’s a process to do every year, but we just enjoy the heck out of it.”

llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com

@llhayhurst

740-295-3417

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Natalie Uhl, a sophomore at Coshocton High School, gets a Thanksgiving meal to serve during Coshocton High School's Thanksgiving meal on Thursday.(Photo11: Chris Crook/Tribune)